Wedding suppliers in Leeds

Planning a wedding in Leeds

Leeds has grown into one of the north's busiest wedding cities, partly because it offers so much variety within a short drive. The city centre has Victorian arcades, converted mills and warehouses along the river and canal, and modern hotels. Within half an hour you can be in the Yorkshire Dales, in estate villages, or at a working farm with a barn and fields full of sheep in the background.

Where couples look

Many couples marry in the city and hold their reception elsewhere, or the reverse. Suburbs and towns such as Horsforth, Chapel Allerton, Pudsey and Garforth each have their own suppliers, from florists and cake makers to hair and make-up artists. Roundhay Park and the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey are well-known spots locally for photographs, though you should check whether permission is needed for organised shoots.

Getting everyone there

Leeds station has fast links to London, Manchester, York and Newcastle, and the M1, M62 and A1(M) all pass close by. Leeds Bradford Airport, near Yeadon, is handy for guests flying in from elsewhere in the UK or from Europe. For rural venues, ask whether they can recommend a minibus or coach company, as taxis can be scarce late at night outside the city.

A few planning tips

• Yorkshire weather is changeable, so make sure your venue has a proper indoor plan for the ceremony and drinks.
• Popular Saturdays in summer are often booked well over a year ahead, particularly at countryside venues. Fridays and Sundays give more flexibility.
• If you are considering a dry-hire barn or marquee, budget time for finding caterers, a bar service, toilets and lighting.

Civil ceremonies in England must be held at a register office or approved premises. You give notice at your local register office, and Leeds Register Office can explain current notice periods and ceremony options.

Start with the venue and photographer, then work outwards to food, flowers and entertainment.